ACM 2013 Christmas Newsletter
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Dear Friends of Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry (ACM):
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! I pray that this newsletter finds you healthy and well, full of the light of this holy season of preparation for the Nativity of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I have much to report to you on our shared ministry to the college students of Annapolis! I say “shared” because your prayers and financial support of this ministry are a vital and indispensible participation in this ministry that is helping form these young men and women in the knowledge and love of Christ at St. John’s College and the U.S. Naval Academy.
There is perhaps no greater time of formation in a person’s life than those four years of college where boys and girls enter and leave young men and women. College is truly a ‘testing ground’: no parents to make them say their prayers and participate in the life of the Church, and college life is full of many temptations, as well as a growing secularism. ACM is here only by God’s grace and your participation to encourage, challenge, provide Christian fellowship, teaching, discipleship, and the Sacramental life that these students and midshipmen need.
Because of your support, I can be on campus in the middle of the day to pray the Sixth Hour at the Naval Academy, hear confessions, meet for coffee with a midshipman or St. John’s student in between classes, hold special services on campus—just as we did last week: the Nativity Paraklesis at St. John’s, a beautiful preparatory service for the Advent season, and the strengthening Akathist to St. Nicholas on his Feast Day, 6 December, at the Naval Academy.
We started something new this Fall at St. John’s College: our weekly “Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion.” Every week a new topic of import for our Christian lives was discussed, the topics chosen by the participants. This was also a great opportunity to invite others from campus to join us. Our visitors included a Sikh student and others new to Orthodox Christianity.
I want to thank you for valuing the difference for Christ that this ministry is making in the lives of the Orthodox students at St. John’s College and the U.S. Naval Academy. I also want to use this opportunity to ask for your prayers:
As you know, three years ago we started Holy Archangels Orthodox Mission to better minister to the students and midshipmen of Annapolis. While we meet just two miles from the Academy, we are looking for worship space for our church within walking distance of both campuses.
